500 yard steel match 3", 5" and 8" steel circles, 10 shots in four minutes. I have loads using the 75 grain Hornady BTHP that shoot MOA in the Wilde it being a M4 barrel contour I can't expect much better. My current Grendel upper is configured the same and shoots about the same. So the plan is to order a heavier 20 inch barrel in one of the above choices. Another choice is my 700 Remington but it gives it's best accuracy with bullets that will not fit in the magazine and at 24 seconds a shot I don't think I am good enough to single load and shoot it fast enough with accuracy. Will most likely use LVR for a powder, any bullets that might prove to be best for this match?
Not too many guys answering your question. Personally I'd be looking at better than "moa" and probably even a different rifle. Also, when you say "moa", is that for 3, 5 or 10 shots? For a shoot like the one you are describing, I'd be looking for sub moa (3/4 at minimum and 1/2 moa would be even better) for 10 shots. You'll need that type of precision to ring the smaller steel plates at 500 yards.
Keeping in mind a 3" target is slightly smaller than .6 moa at that distance.
The 2 rifles I'm thinking of would be a Tikka CTR chambered in 6.5 creedmoor, or an AR10 chambered for the same cartridge. From experience shooting at 500 yards, I'd want that higher bc pill from the 6.5 and good ballistics. A fast 6mm (6GT for example) would be great as well and have an edge over the creedmoor. However, those are not on your list.
With the CTR and a 10 round box magazine, it would be very easy to make those shots in the time allotment you have described. You don't need an AR platform for that, but you do need the mag capacity to help with time, rather than single feeding.
To give you an idea, here are some 500 yard targets for reference. Also, I'm showing paper targets because those do not lie. They tell the whole/real story:
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/nraTGS4.jpg)
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/blq7hkO.jpg)
If you look at the outliers, you will see if I would have been just shooting at a 3" target at 500 yards, my hit ratio would be about 60%. If that would have been a 5" plate, the ratio goes up to 90%. An 8" plate would be 100%. That target was shot with a S&W M&P10 Performance Center 6.5 creedmoor.
My Tikka CTR would have been roughly the same because of my poor wind call:
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/trgKqgz.jpg)
![[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]](https://i.imgur.com/F6nDo1j.jpg)
50% hit ratio for a 3" target, 80% for a 5" target and 100% for an 8" target.
What it is going to boil down to is what rifle shoots best for you. Personally I would not use a slow Grendal or slow 6mm, and the reports of precision for the 6 ARC in the AR platform have not been stellar. That leaves you with the old tried and true 223 rem, out of the choices you give. However, I would not use the bullet you mentioned. They just don't shoot as well (IMHO) as a good SMK or TMK. 69 or 77gr pills. I know, others may argue, but I'd love to see their honest 500 yard targets.
Another thing is, how fierce is the competition? Is it a bunch of old club members or a fun day with the buddies out for some grudge matches? Or are you going to get some shooters from the big city clubs that shoot F class or highpower? For as many guys that claim to shoot at distance here, you sure are not getting a lot of responses. Good luck with your shoot. It would be cool if you would post pictures of your rifles capabilities at 500 yards, that would make it easier for us to discern which would be best to use. Hopefully you have some time to get it figured out.
